The Best Shoes for Pregnancy (from a two-time “old” mom)

The most supportive sneakers I have are the On Cloudmonster running shoes. I didn’t run in these while pregnant (keep reading for my favorite pregnancy running shoes), but instead wore them for strength workouts, walking and athleisure outfits. They have great arch support, and the cushion is unmatched. I included these in my Nordstrom Anniversary sale shoe guide, so if you’re seeing this while the sale is live, you can snag them at a discount!

If the On Cloud design leaves you feeling a little unstable, try a sneaker with a more traditional but still cushiony sole, like the Brooks Ghost Max. I’ve worn and loved these before, during and after pregnancy.

The VEJA Recife sneakers are my favorite white sneakers, whether pregnant or not. The reason I love them for pregnancy specifically is that they have a Velcro design rather than a lace-up. When you’re in your third trimester, lacing up sneakers is harder than you think. If you do want a lace-up option, the VEJA Campo is my favorite.

Swayzy Sneakers Metallic Multi Leather from Dolce Vita caught my eye the second I saw the metallic finish. I really like this sneaker style, whether mule or not, so if this had been available during my pregnancies, I would have snagged it. It’s more fashion-forward than Veja’s (which lean more classic), so if a chunkier sneaker is more your style, I love this pair. If you like the look, but not the slip on style, grab the New Balance 530s.

Like so many shoes in this post, I love the Sam Edelman Loraine Loafers, pregnant or not. They’re the most comfortable loafers I’ve ever worn and need practically no “breaking in.” These come in many colors and materials – I’ve had 1 or 2 pairs of these in my closet for 15+ years when working in Corporate America and still love them. These are good shoes for pregnancy because they’re easy to slip on and off and have plenty of give for swollen feet. I rarely do this, but these shoes are designed so you can step on the back of the heel and squish it down if you prefer a mule style instead. 

If you like a slip-on design, I can’t recommend the Scarosso Serena Cognac Mules enough. I recently tried them on, and they fit right out of the box (and they’re stunning). I got my true EU size (a 37, and I’m 6.5/7 in US sizes). While the Serena mules are pricey, they’ll last you forever.

If you’re a heels girl through and through, I recommend the Sam Edelman Winfred Pointed Toe Slingback Sandal. The heel itself isn’t too high (only 2?), and the fit is easy to slip on and off. The toe is pointed, but I never had an issue with it. They’re comfortable to walk in all day, look professional in all settings, and come in many colors.

The Fonteyn from Margaux is a great pregnancy option because it has more structure than your average flat. The best feature for pregnancy in particular is that the bow is adjustable, so you can tighten or loosen the shoes as your feet swell throughout the day or over trimesters. No break-in time is needed either. 

The Greta Ballet Flat from Madewell is another good ballet flat for pregnancy because it is so comfortable, has a wide toe box, and has an elastic strap over the top that gives you extra support. They stretch naturally, so I recommend sizing down if you’re between two sizes. Or if you notice your feet are starting to swell, just get your true size (don’t size up).

Again, the Loraine Loafers from Sam Edelman are the winners and my top loafer pick for pregnancy. They’re comfortable right out of the box, stretch naturally as real leather does, and they get better with wear. 

I recently got the Grayson Penny Loafer from Madewell, and I wish I had had these during my first pregnancy. They’re comfortable, have a classic style and are comfortable right out of the box. 

The Ugg Coquette Slippers are the best pregnancy slippers because they have a thicker sole than the Scuffette style slippers, making them more cushioned and they’re less prone to slipping. I also appreciate that I can wear them outside the house to take something to the car or take the trash to the street – and it won’t ruin the slippers.

These Shearling Moroccan Slippers don’t have any support, but they’re by far the coziest slippers I’ve ever had, so I wore them nonstop during my second pregnancy. Sure, a more supportive option might be better overall, but in terms of comfort, you cannot beat these. They are, hands down, one of the best gifts I’ve ever received.

The best true slip-on shoes for pregnancy are the Kizik Hands-Free Shoes. The entire line of Kizik’s shoes is hands-free slip-on, which is just a brilliant idea for so many people, including pregnant women. They have many styles, but I think the Athens style is the best option. What makes these especially great shoes for pregnancy is that you don’t need to bend down to slip them on; you can put them on standing up. (My sister-in-law SWEARS by these shoes, and my brother has even started wearing the Kizik men’s shoes too!)

I linked the Dolce Vita Swayzy Sneakers Metallic Multi Leather above as one of the best fashion sneaker options for pregnancy, but since they’re technically slip-ons, they fall under this category as well. I love that these look like they’d lace up, but you can actually slip them on without ever touching the laces. They’re just as easy to put on as the Kiziks, and they’re a great stylish option.

The Mayven Sandals by Steve Madden are a favorite for pregnancy. They have enough lift to still feel like real shoes instead of flats, have cushioned footbeds, and are wide enough to be comfortable even at 39 weeks, when my feet felt more like sausages than feet. Plus, they’re slip-on.

The Nina Slide Sandal is an affordable pair of sandals from Target that I wore into the ground. While I typically like to spend a bit more on shoes, these were so comfortable that I wore them multiple times a week. 

The cork footbed on these molds to your foot the more you wear them, so once they’re broken in, they’re insanely comfortable. They aren’t my personal style, but they’re a great option for pregnancy because of the arch support (I favor a pair of sandals like the Tereza Style from Ancient Greek Sandals over Birks, but they’re pricey). If I went with Birkenstocks, I’d do this Arizona Big Buckle High Shine. This is a cute Amazon Birkenstock lookalike as well.

I loved running in the Brooks Ghost when I was pregnant. They’re shockingly cushioned but don’t feel heavy. The toe box is roomy, which is especially helpful during pregnancy when my feet would swell.

If you want even more cushion, go for the Brooks Ghost Max. I own both the regular Ghost and the Ghost Max and alternate, depending on the type of run I’m doing.

The Salma Bootie by Dolce Vita is a great option for pregnancy because it’s affordable, they come in a bunch of colors, and they have a nice block heel. 

The Tory Burch Chelsea Boot is a good bootie for pregnancy if you want something without a heel. Look for one with a side zipper for easy on and off, or make sure it has enough stretch around the ankle to get on without a big struggle. Here’s how to style Chelsea boots.

The Hana Slide Sandal by Steve Madden is my top pick here. It’s an open-toe slide, so there’s zero pressure on your toes, and you can step in and out of it without bending down. I have a similar style from Margaux that’s infinitely verstile if you want to invest in something you’ll have for years.

The Sam Edelman Daniella Block Heel Sandal is the closest thing I’ve found to the pair I actually wore during pregnancy; mine has since been discontinued, but this one has the same low, stable block heel that doesn’t feel like a heel at all once you’re walking in it.

If you want something for everyday that still feels a little special, the Larroudé Caramel Milan Sandal is it. I’ve worn a lot of Larroudé over the years (I wrote up my full Larroudé shoe review if you want the details), and this one is one of my favorite all-time shoes.

If you’d rather keep your toes covered, I already talked about the Sam Edelman Winfred Pointed Toe Slingback Sandal up in the Work Shoes section. The heel is only 2 inches and it’s easy to slip on and off. Open-toe is roomier if your feet are swelling, but closed-toe works fine too if that’s just your preference.

For actual events, I splurged on Loeffler Randall heels with a block heel and a platform, which gives you extra height without the steep pitch of a regular heel (here’s the same style with a shorter heel if you want less lift). If you’d rather not splurge, I rounded up my favorite Loeffler Randall dupes too.

Wedges aren’t usually my go-to, but if I wanted one during pregnancy, I’d get the Tuckernuck Clear Denny Wedges. The wider base gives you more stability than a heel, which matters more than usual when your balance is already off.

The Campus Clog by Frye is the closest match I’ve found to the pair I actually wore. I lived in heeled clogs during my second pregnancy, they gave me a little height without any of the instability of an actual heel, and the roomy fit meant I never had to size up or squeeze my feet in.

If you’d rather keep things flat, Birkenstock Boston Clogs are a great casual option too. Quince also has a Birkenstock lookalike that I actually own. Size down if you go with these.